Study of low-Q PZT as a radiation detector

Abstract

Piezoelectric PZT elements were studied by directly irradiating a 400 MeV/n Xe beam. The elements were sensitive to the number of 10/sup 4/ Xe ions and their output amplitudes were proportional to the beam intensity, that is, the total energy deposited within the element. An ensemble of the output amplitudes behaved like the Bragg curve towards the end of the range. We discuss its potential as a radiation detector and its application to high intensity and high energy detectors.